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Exactly 11 months from the day we began our IV-P Turbine, we started the
engine. The airplane is complete, sans interior. We were in Redmond all
last week, expecting our Airworthiness Cert. on Wed/Thurs, only to find
that we had failed to submit the FAA registration form. This is a 3-part
form that canNOT be downloaded from the internet, and has to go to FAA
(OK) with $5. We found an agent in OK City to walk it through the FAA,
but it didn't make it out in time, so we couldn't bring the DAR in. Very
disappointing.
Nonetheless, we did several start-ups and a fast taxi, which was
awesome. We will be back in a couple of weeks for the DAR and test
flights. Peter Stiles of Lancair did the fast taxis (nose wheel off) and
pronounced it a very sound airplane. The smooth, quiet power of the
turbine is something you just have to get behind to believe.
The support of Lancair and our builder assist shop (Fibercraft) was more
than anyone could have reasonably expected. I don't know how many times
we have said to each other, "Could you imagine trying to do this away
from Lancair?" My advice to anyone contemplating a Lancair is to use a
shop in Redmond/Bend. You would do well to get a spot at Fibercraft, as
Matt Collier can only take in one project at a time. There are endless
stories about how fortunate we were to be across the street from
Lancair, and there is no way we would have met our goal of flying in a
year if we had gone elsewhere.
Our empty weight is 2,275 and we are well within CG with 4 people, full
fuel (123 gals.) and 100 lbs. in the baggage compartment. Our GW is
probably going to be 4,100. The airplane is a real showpiece. I have
attached a photo, but I'm not sure that works on this list.
Brian Barbata
LIVPT, Inc.
N104PT - 99.9%
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